From Pythagoras to LaMonte

“From Pythagoras to LaMonte: An Analysis of Harmony Over Time” was a combination lecture and interactive performance created to to contextualize the interdisciplinary research I had been doing on harmony, tuning systems, timbre and sound synthesis during my M.F.A. studies at the University of Maine. With Pythagoras and La Monte Young as historical bookends, the piece reviewed how harmonic concepts have been understood and utilized in composition from traditional music theory through modern and experimental compositional forms.

The piece itself was an additive synthesis-driven spatial audio environment, controlled by computer vision. A grid was laid out on the floor, through which visitors could walk and control several audio parameters that served to sonically demonstrate audio principles.

In addition to research in sound synthesis, timbre and harmony, and spatial audio, much of the focus of this piece was based on interface design and mapping structures. The room was designed as an interactive space where an overhead camera tracked the audience’s movements on the floor below which were converted into control signals for sound synthesis (the primary interface), while an iPad interface was designed for wireless control of the synthesizer’s several different modes (the secondary interface, which I controlled). The sound synthesis and interaction was developed in Max, with additional audio production in Ableton Live.

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